What is UPF clothing and why do you need it?

What is UPF clothing and why do you need it?

The hike takes longer. Lunch runs late. You find a view worth staying for. Suddenly you're spending more time in the sun than you planned.

In Australia and New Zealand, sun protection is part of everyday life. UPF clothing and sunscreen work together, giving you consistent protection that holds up over a long day outdoors. Here's what UPF actually is, and why it belongs in your kit.

What is UPF?

UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. It measures how well fabric blocks UV rays, the same way SPF measures how well sunscreen does. The higher the number, the more protection.

UPF blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Left unprotected, both damage skin cells at a DNA level, contributing to skin cancer risk.

A standard cotton tee, for comparison, sits at around UPF 5. Not much of a barrier.

What do the ratings mean?

UPF ratings fall into two bands. A rating of UPF 30 to 49 offers very good protection. UPF 50+ is the top tier: excellent protection, and the highest rating commonly used in sun-protective clothing.

What does UPF 50+ mean?

UPF 50+ blocks 98.2% of the sun's UV rays. It's the highest protection rating commonly used in sun-protective clothing, and it's the standard across our entire range.

Why does Kathmandu have UPF 50+ ratings?

Rather than stocking a mix of ratings across the range, Kathmandu requires every sun-protective fabric to meet UPF 50+ before it earns a UPF claim. One rating, applied consistently, so you never have to check the label twice.

How does fabric actually block the sun?

It comes down to a combination of weave, fibre and, sometimes, treatment:

• Tighter weaves leave less space for UV rays to sneak through.
• Fabric type matters too. Synthetic fibres like polyester and nylon are naturally more UV-resistant than something like cotton.
• UV-blocking treatments are sometimes added during production to boost performance further.

We call the first two "UPF by construction": protection woven into the fabric itself, which doesn't fade with wear. We're moving our whole range this way. 

It's not just about the fabric

A fabric can pass every lab test and still not earn a UPF claim on the finished garment. Under Australian Standard both the fabric and the design have to stack up: sleeve length, neckline, and overall coverage all factor in.

So when you see a UPF claim on a Kathmandu product, it means:

• The fabric has been independently lab tested
• The garment meets Australian Standard coverage requirements
• It's been designed with genuine body coverage in mind
• It delivers UPF 50+ protection across the skin it covers

Our Materials team tests bulk fabric every summer season, across every colourway, with accredited labs. In-house testing keeps everything on track before a claim reaches a swing tag.

Why do you need it?

Australia and New Zealand have some of the highest UV levels in the world, making sun protection an important part of any day outdoors.

UPF clothing and sunscreen each play a role. UPF 50+ clothing provides reliable protection for the skin it covers, while sunscreen helps protect exposed areas. Used together, they offer a simple way to help reduce UV exposure, whether you're on the trail, at the beach or exploring somewhere new.

Where you'll find it this season

Sun protection isn't one collection at Kathmandu. It's built into products designed for the way you actually move outdoors:

• Trailhead Pants & Shorts: lightweight, quick-dry UPF 50+ bottoms built for long summer hiking days, with stretch, water-resistant finish and 94% recycled fabric. Need more coverage? This is your range.
• SUN-Stopper Tops: our lightweight sun-protection layer, with select styles made using LanzaTech carbon capture technology, turning captured carbon emissions into polyester fibre.
• A wide-brimmed UPF hat adds another layer of coverage while keeping things simple. The Trailhead UPF50+ Wide Brim Hat is made from lightweight recycled ripstop and features a wide brim plus a toggled chin strap to help keep it secure when you're on the move.

You'll also find UPF 50+ protection across Ridge hike shirts and pants, SUN-Breaker tops, Flight Stretch long sleeve shirts, XT Series Flight Pants, Seeker Tops and our Evry Day Hats.

Things worth knowing:

• It only protects the skin it covers. Everything else is exposed.
• It doesn't replace sunscreen. Pair it with a good hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen on exposed skin.
• It's not just for summer. UV rays don't take the cooler months off, so UPF clothing earns its place in your kit year-round.

What UPF clothing does is meaningfully cut UV exposure across the areas it covers, trip after trip.

The bottom line

Protection built into what you wear means more freedom to keep going, whether that's another kilometre, a longer lunch, or staying out for sunset.

Up for the sun, with Kathmandu's UPF 50+ sun protection clothing.